Hyundai unveils two new IONIQ EV concepts, an electric sedan and family SUV [Images]

Hyundai introduced two new EV concepts under its IONIQ EV brand, including a sleek electric sedan and an everyday family SUV. Meet Earth and Venus.

Meet Earth and Venus, Hyundai’s new IONIQ EV concepts

After unveiling the Boulder Concept at the New York Auto Show last week, Hyundai quietly offered a sneak peek at two new IONIQ EV models.

In a series of images and videos, Hyundai previewed the Earth and Venus EV concepts, with the tagline “The new journey of IONIQ begins.”

Ahead of the Beijing Auto Show, which opens on April 24, Hyundai unveiled the newest members of its IONIQ electric vehicle series.

The two new EV concepts, Venus and Earth, are specifically developed as part of Hyundai’s comeback plan in China. Venus is a “trend-setting sedan,” while Earth is a “dependable family SUV,” Hyundai said after introducing them during its IONIQ brand launch event in Beijing.

“Built on IONIQ’s uncompromising principles of world-class safety and quality, we will soon introduce production models that seamlessly combine the smart driving and smart cabin experiences that Chinese consumers demand,” Li Fenggang, president at Beijing Hyundai, said at the event.

Both concepts feature a unique “single-curbe silhouettes,” which Hyundai said are based on its ethos of “Lead, don’t follow.”

Venus, an electric sedan, is “inspired by the brightest planet’s timeless beauty” with a “Radiant Gold” high-tech exterior. The concept looks similar to Kia’s Vision Meta Turismo concept car with slim LED headlights rather than the Pixel lighting that’s a signature on Hyundai’s other IONIQ models like the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 9.

Earth, on the other hand, is “a bold and powerful family SUV,” with a sharp, futuristic design and “air-hug” seats made of soft air modules.

In China, Hyundai said its IONIQ brand will “evolve beyond a product lineup into a broader mobility ecosystem,” suggesting that the vehicles will be software-defined.

The new Earth and Venus IONIQ EVs are likely to be equipped with Hyundai’s new Pleos system. The advanced end-to-end software platform manages everything from the vehicle’s operating system (OS) to the infotainment system and its hardware.

As an Android-based system, Hyundai’s Pleos Connect is like using a smartphone, similar to Tesla’s infotainment systems.

Hyundai is introducing a unique naming system for IONIQ models launched in China. All future IONIQ models will be named after planets, symbolizing how each vehicle orbits around the driver.

Hyundai will reveal more details during a press conference at the Beijing Auto Show on April 24. We will also get our first look at the IONIQ 3 during Milan Design Week later this month, which runs from April 20-26. Check back for the latest updates.